16,479 Get Special Gifts from His Majesty Sultan Brunei

A TOTAL of 16,479 people – comprising orphans, the less fortunate and those with special needs – have received kurnia peribadi (personal gifts) from the monarch this year, ahead of upcoming Hari Raya Aidil Fitri celebrations.

For the past six years, the endowment has been given to individuals registered with the government as requiring “special assistance”, regardless of their being locals or foreigners.In the second event this week, members of the royal family dispersed the kurnia to 7,953 people in concurrent ceremonies held across the country.

In Brunei-Muara, His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah were on hand to give out the kurnia to some 3,385 people at Istana Nurul Iman.

Meanwhile in Belait, 2,246 recipients lined up at Pusat Insani in Seria to receive the cash gift from His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik. His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen presented the kurnia to 2,322 people at the Tutong Community Complex.

Each recipient was given a coupon which they cashed out at one of the Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam counters set up at each venue.

The kurnia peribadi reflects the generosity of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, towards his less fortunate subjects during the festive period.

Brunei will mark Hari Raya Aidil Fitri next week, either on Friday or Saturday, once the new moon is sighted.

DESPITE first making its appearance in the Sultanate during the 1940s, Kuih Mor continues to be a household favourite today as a tea time snack or festive treat particularly during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

Siti Norhafizah Hj Bagol, a final year student at Universiti Brunei Darussalam who researched on Kuih Mor as part of her Brunei Traditional Industry module, said the three-ingredient sweet treat may have existed in Brunei as early as the 1940s when padi was known to have been grown to make different food items.

Over time, the cookie has also become a popular door-gift choice often handed out at Malay weddings or gatherings, said Siti Norhafizah.

Made with flour, oil and granulated sugar which have been ground into a powder, the bite-sized biscuits have a crumbly texture and are coated with powdered sugar.

The age-old technique of making Kuih Mor by hand has however changed over the course of time, with many now opt…

BY COMMAND of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office hereby announces that His Majesty has consented to the transfer and appointment of the following senior officers – Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau and Solicitor General has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; and Datin Elinda binti Haji CA Mohamed, Special Senior Duties Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs has been appointed as Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau.